Sympathetic pregnancies

Men suffer pregnancy symptoms in sympathy with their partners, according to new research

London researchers have discovered that men really do suffer pregnancy symptoms in sympathy with their partners.Fathers-to-be suffer mood swings, food cravings, cramps, morning sickness and even swollen stomachs that look like a 'baby bump', the largest study of its kind found. Specialists at St George's Hospital, Tooting, carried out the research on 282 expectant fathers during their partners' pregnancies. The results were compared with 281 men whose partners were not pregnant, who experienced none of the symptoms displayed by the fathers to be.

One man said his stomach pains got stronger like a woman's contractions, while some men had food cravings. Another man said he suffered morning sickness with his wife and neither could keep much food down.

Men also reported having extreme fatigue and back pain. Stomach swelling happened to three men. 11 sought help from their GP and tests found no physical causes. One man even claimed his pain during his partner's labour was worse than hers.

The phenomenon is called Couvade Syndrome. In the Evening Standard, study author Dr Arthur Brennan said: "These men were so attuned to their partners they started to develop the same symptoms. Some people may perceive this as men trying to get in on the act, but far from being attention-seeking these symptoms are involuntary. "Often the men haven't got a clue about what's happening to them. Doctors don't recognise Couvade Syndrome - there's no medical diagnosis. Yet this research proves that it really exists."